240. The New Army Filter Line and A Look Back at K&P’s Filter Pipe History
This Tuesday, August 17th, K&P will launch the Army Filter, its first major 9mm line since 1997. It’s got the Peterson house style down pat, offering a lot both on the outside and under the hood. For this first release here in the US, we can expect to see shapes 01, 03, 05, 06, 120, 150, 221, 230, 338, 80s, 999, X220, XL02, XL90, all in either the dark brown Heritage finish or black sandblast. XL90 Army Filter, Heritage finish If you take a close look at the XL90 above, you’ll see something old and something new in the newly-designed stem. Like the new Tyrone stem, it’s got a wide, flat surface that measures just 4.3 mm thick and 16.8 across on all four samples I received. That’s impressive, at least in my book, and makes for easy clenching even with heavier pipes. The slot is also really nice. As you can see in the detail photo, it is sufficiently deep and well-chamfered to insure a great air flow. The tenon is also nicely finished, and with the filter inserted the drag is almost identical to the System. Not the gigantically open experience some smokers prefer (which always feels like a Missouri Meerschaum cob with the filter to me), but not difficult by any means. Just comfortable. 03 Army Filter, sandblast The other thing I want you to notice—as if you haven’t already—is the drop-dead gorgeous “Patent” swell of these tapered acrylic fishtail stems. I routinely hear from Pete Geeks who want tapered stems on their army mounts—their System army mounts (where none are to be found). If you compare this stem to what’s been available on K&P’s fishtail acrylic army mounts in the past, you’ll be immediately struck by its old-school curves and weight. Filters in the US run about 18 cents apiece for a small box of 40 or 16 cents if you go for the large box of 150. If you find you have to have one of the new Army filters but don’t normally use a filter, no worries. You can get an adapter like the 8deco 9 to 3 mm in a two-pack for two bucks or single adapters from Rattrays or Vauen for five. I’ve used these on occasion and can’t complain. They deliver the goods and bring down the air volume to the same you’d experience in a non-filtered pipe. As for the stamps, K&P continues its reinstated practice of putting the company and line name on the obverse and the shape number and new oval MADE IN IRELAND on the obverse. While I’m not qualified to discuss the 9mm smoking experience, I have seen enough Petes to express an opinion that this is far-and-away the finest filter line K&P has released. The quality on this (as on the Tyrone) seems to have taken a leap from previous new issues. I don't know if new procedures are in place at the factory or what, but the nickel mounts are better polished, the…